Syllabus

A new session of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.

Week
1

Wednesday - Lesson
01

In this first lesson, I'll take you through the details of monitors—standard desktop and projectors—and video cards. You'll learn how they work and function together to produce the display you see.

Friday - Lesson
02

In Lesson 2, I continue the discussion on video from Lesson 1. I start with video card processors and memory, then go through details about installation and configuration, including 3-D. You'll finish up with troubleshooting video.

Week
2

Wednesday - Lesson
03

In Lesson 3, I'll delve into the details of sound. We will explore how sound works in a digital environment and then examine all the components that work to record and play back sound.

Friday - Lesson
04

Today we'll examine the many features of portable computers. We'll explore the many ways to expand the capabilities of portables, from connecting to external monitors to docking stations.

Week
3

Wednesday - Lesson
05

In today's lesson, we'll cover three essential areas of knowledge for competent PC techs. You'll learn how to manage and maintain portable PCs. The lesson discusses in detail the processes for upgrading and repairing laptops and then finishes with lots of information on troubleshooting problems specific for portable PCs.

Friday - Lesson
06

In Lesson 6, I'll introduce you to wired networking. We'll cover topics such as network hardware, topologies, and software. I'll teach you about Ethernet, coaxial and fiber cabling technologies, and more. Let's connect!

Week
4

Wednesday - Lesson
07

Today we'll explore wireless technologies, starting with the basics, such as components, software, modes, security, speed, and range. You'll learn about wireless networking standards, such as radio wave and infrared networks. We'll finish the lesson with a look at installing, configuring, and troubleshooting wireless networks.

Friday - Lesson
08

In Lesson 8, we'll delve deeply into the software side of networking. You'll learn details about TCP/IP, the primary protocol suite used today. I'll cover Windows-specific details as well, such as sharing and accessing shared resources. We'll finish the lesson with troubleshooting network-specific problems.

Week
5

Wednesday - Lesson
09

Get ready to take the networking covered in previous lessons and expand it to fill the Internet. We'll start with a broad stroke on how the Internet works and then examine the various connections types to get onto the Internet. We'll wrap the lesson with a discussion of common Internet software tools.

Friday - Lesson
10

In today's lesson, we'll analyze security procedures for local area networks. I'll show you the many threats faced and then dive into access-control techniques. We'll hit on topics like data classification, compliance, and reporting procedures. It's more fun than it sounds from this description!

Week
6

Wednesday - Lesson
11

Today, we'll jump into aspects of security in the big bad world, notably, discussing threats from outside your network. We'll look at malicious software types and how to deal with them. Then we'll turn to protections you should establish networkwide. The knowledge in this lesson is invaluable to you as both a tech and for the CompTIA A+ certification exams.

Friday - Lesson
12

In this our final lesson, you'll complete the trio of CompTIA A+ exam prep courses, focusing on the latest computing devices: mobile devices. You'll learn about the features and capabilities of smartphones and tablets. I'll also explain configuration techniques and describe best practices for securing mobile devices.